London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1869. First Edition. In an attractive Zaehnsdorf binding. Three quarters blue calf and marbled boards. Raised bands and gilt to spine. Bookplate of Lord Battersea (Cyril Flower) to front pastedown. This book of social and political criticism was, at its time, seen as quite controversial. Binding is a little rubbed. Foxing to front/rear pages, but body of book mostly clean and not foxed. lx + 272pp. 21 x 15 cm.

Cyril Flower, first Baron Battersea (30 August 1843 – 27 November 1907) was a British Liberal politician and patron of art. His bookplate shows his favourite motto: Flores curat Deus (God cares for the flowers).